LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 3 July 1944, Page 3

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Narrow Victory NGAHERE BEATS MARIST. The feature of the continuation of the West Coast Rugby League’s senior competition, yesterday, was the narrow defeat of Brunner by Blackball. Weather was fine and the games were keen. At Blackball Ngahere beat Marist by 30 points to 15. BLACKBALL 16— BRUNNER 6.

With ten minutes of play gone in the second spell Brunner was leading the yet unbeaten Blackball team by 3 points to nil, the result of a try scored by M. Anderson in the first spell. Up to this stage, Hoggarth, the Brunner rake, had been giving his backs a feast of the ball and they had been turning this to advantage. On several occasions they were unlucky not to score. Williams and Bernard, the Brunner five-eighths were impressive on attack . while when Blackball penetrated their defence held. Dando’s clearing kicks were constant thorns in Blackball’s side. Blackball’s first points came as the result of Ord securing on Blackball’s twenty-five and sending to C. Mountford to Aynsley who scored. C. Mountford failed to convert. Blackball looked likely but O’Donnell was grounded short of the line, Browning relieving with a good kick. Plav at ths stage was willing with Brunner pressing hard. C. Mountford relieved with a fine run. He was stopped close to the Brunner line and Dando sent a pood kick down field. Plav was in Blackball territory when C. Mountford secured and weaved his way through the opposing men to score undec the posts, a most spectacular individual trv. McNaughton converted. From the kick off Brunner brought nlav close to Blackball’s line. Nuttall attempted to clear. bu< his kick rebounded and K. Mountford forced. Williams made a determined effort to score when he secured from a five-yard' scrum, but was held up on the line. From a scrum on Brunner’s twenty-five, Ord worked the blind side with McNaughton, who sent O’Donnell over, wide out. Nuttall goaled with a grand kick. McBride scored soon after when he accepted a pass from C. Mountford who had gained' considerable ground. Nuttal failed to goal. Brunner now took a turn at attack. A duel took place between the two full-backs, and then Dudley charged down nnp of Nuttall’ c kicks and scored. Williams missed with the kick and the game ended shortly afterwards with the score: Blackball 16—Brunner 6. Referee: Mr. J. Griffen. NGAHERE 30—MARIST 15.

The first half was an even one but Ngahere predominated in the second half. Marist opened its account first when N. Hopkins took play to the Ngahere line, where P. Coll picked up to score under the p'osts. He also converted the try. Ngahere then scored when Howden dribbled through for A. Dunn to go over under the posts. Howden’s kick made the score five all. Soon after Howden goaled from a penalty and the half-time score was Ngahere 7—Marist 5. On the resumption Howden kicked another penalty. Then Dowell broke away about mid-field and sent on to Pascoe to O’Brien for the latter tn score a fine try under the posts. Howden converted. O’Brien secured and ran through the opposing backs at midfield and sent to Dowel! who raced 40 yards to go over wide out. Howden failed to' goal. Ngahere forwards then attacked and Howden dived over between the posts. O’Brien converting. A well-judged kick by Pascoe went over Marist’s line and Howden touched l down. O’Brien again converted. From a scrum on Marist’s twenty-five, Smith ran round and sent on to F. Gibson who went over wide out. to bring the score to Ngahere 30—Marist 5. Malone was prominent in a Marist attack and sent a kick over Nga'here’s line. W. Mundy followed up to touch down. Coll converted. Then Malone, >■ K. Coll and P. Coll figured in a bright passing movement for the latter to score in a handy position, a try which he converted, to make the final score. Ngahere 30 —Marist 15.

Referee: Mr. L. Kinsella. JUNIOR GAMES.

At Wingham Park yesterday, Marist juniors, playing open football in the backs, and dominating most of the forward play defeated Brunner by 23 points to 3. A feature of the game was the goal kicking of L. Dargen, outstanding centre three-quarter, who also played an outstanding game. Tries for Marist were scored bv McGirr (2), Dargen (2) and Mundy. Dargen converted three tries and kicked a penalty goal. D. Williams scored for Brunner. The referee was Mr. T. McKenzie. LOWER GRADES.

At Brunner a IRunanga' fourth grade team defeated Brunner byi 11 to 5. In a fourth grade match at Wingham Park yefeterday, Blackball beat Marist by 31 to 21. Mr., H. Bassett was referee. On Saturday in a 7st 71b' grade match, Brunner beat Marist by 16 to 3. In the 6st 71b grade, Marist beat Runanga by 20 to 3. CANTERBURY TEAM. CHRISTCHURCH, June 2. Twenty men to train for selection in ’ the Canterbury Rugby League team to meet West Coast early in August were chosen as follows: — Backs: J. Chapple, C. Buckley, G. Nuttall, C. Davidson, J. McCarthy, J. Masters, E. Lews, B. King, A. Haughton. N. Davis and L. Bench. Forwards: L. Wehner, G. Newton, I. Wilson, T. Wilson. A. Gillman. K. Wiltshire, P. Smith, J. Neale, and M. Noonan.